Ruger Blackhawk in 45-70

[gcrank1]

Pretty nice group out of any handgun @ 50yd. in my book.
You dont have to worry about fumbling those cartridges much either........

[Cabin4]

Photo Of Group

 BFR 45/70,   5 Shots,  50 yards benched iron sights,  550 gr cast FP GC, 1260 fps ave

That should be close to 1 ton of energy at the muzzle. At 50 yards it should be close to 1,200 FPS and about 1700 lbs of energy. With those levels of accuracy & energy, I can see this as a very capable big game killer.

[flatgate]

Wheeler/Topping, Salt Lake City 'smiths, made long cartridge Rugers back in the '70's/'80's.

Neil Wheeler, may he rest in peace, explained to me that he'd weld two Ruger cylinder frames together and have the welds x-ray tested. I do not recall his technique for producing the long cylinders........

flatgate

[mrussel]

Wheeler/Topping, Salt Lake City 'smiths, made long cartridge Rugers back in the '70's/'80's.

Neil Wheeler, may he rest in peace, explained to me that he'd weld two Ruger cylinder frames together and have the welds x-ray tested. I do not recall his technique for producing the long cylinders........

flatgate

 I think that was one of his. The lady at the table said exactly that. Its interesting to note that the one in the picture was NOT made on a 44magnum,but instead a 357 frame. She said the cylinders were custom made rather than being made from original Ruger cylinders and that they blew a couple up just to test the limits of what they could take and that it was way beyond the hottest bolt action rifle loads. She said that Ruger felt the frames were solid, however felt the cylinder walls were a few thousandths thinner than their minimum specifications would have allowed in a revolver.  Of course,if you look at the pressures in a 45-70 that shouldn't be a problem. (They didn't look thin to me,like some other manufacturers 44 magnums do)

[mrussel]

Photo Of Group

 BFR 45/70,   5 Shots,  50 yards benched iron sights,  550 gr cast FP GC, 1260 fps ave

 I saw a BFR at Cabellas in 45LC/410 and it was suprisingly light. I thought it would be so heavy you could never carry it. I defiantly want one,but only becuase I cant get a SBH in 45/70

[flatgate]

 I think that was one of his. The lady at the table said exactly that. Its interesting to note that the one in the picture was NOT made on a 44 magnum,but instead a 357 frame.

No difference when dealing with the "regular" production New Models.  .30 Carbine and larger calibres use the same identical cylinder frame.
Since 2005's introduction of the 50th Anniv. of the .357 Blackhawk and the New Vaquero the mid sized cylinder frame has returned to the Ruger line.

Me? I'll stick with a Freedom Arms revolver if I want some serious performance  

JMHO,
flatgate

[big bore dad]

I think it is a great looking ruger except the ejector rod housing I think it would look better blued.  I have owned a bfr in .45-70 and that gun was very fun to to shoot I totally loved.  It was launching big heavy bullets and seeing the knock down power they had.  Thanks to the single action design it was very pleasant to shoot.  I only got rid of it so I could buy a dirt bike for my son.  But as I type this I'm working on a trade to get another one.  For me its all about fun and it is a very fun gun.

[ole 5 hole group]

I kinda look at the 45/70 much in the same way as Lloyd, in that it’s just a bigger 45 caliber – no more, no less.  Now granted, it can throw huge chunks of lead at close to warp speed downrange meaning that you’ll get lots of penetration – more so than a 45 Colt or 454 Casull, but it’s still 0.458 in diameter – better than 0.452 but still a 45.

Bigger normally is better and in this case the 500 Linebaughs & 50 Alaskans at 0.512 diameter is the better killing machine by far and they normally will completely penetrate most anything within North America end to end.

For the cost – the BFR 45/70 or maybe that Ruger is a whole lot less money than the Linebaugh or Alaskan and will definitely do what needs done.  And like one poster advised – you won’t be fumbling any cartridges when reloading those bad boys.

With that length cylinder and loaded with 500+ grains of lead - it's on the heavy side for an ole man - you young studs can take it in stride.  It's a great revolver but not for everyone.

I’ve got a 500 Linebaugh Max for no other reason than I wanted it and it was offered at a price I could afford.  I shoot the snot out of it but I keep most of my shooting at or around the 1,000fps mark with a 440 grain HC and it’s very enjoyable and accurate.  If you want - you can approach the 1,600fps mark with a 440 grain HC in an attempt to break your wrist but the penetration won’t be but an inch or two more than if you kept the velocity down to the 1,250/1,300fps area and experience only mild discomfort.   

[Chas.]

I defiantly want one,but only becuase I cant get a SBH in 45/70

You might be surprised how close a BFR is to an SBH.  It's my understanding that Ruger casts the BFR cylinder frames and other parts in their Pine Tree casting plant.  I know that my OM SBH grips fit my BFRs well.  However, the fit/finish on my BFRs is superior to Ruger's.  When you pull the hammer back, you feel that you have a precision instrument in your hand.

[mrussel]

I defiantly want one,but only becuase I cant get a SBH in 45/70

You might be surprised how close a BFR is to an SBH.  It's my understanding that Ruger casts the BFR cylinder frames and other parts in their Pine Tree casting plant.  I know that my OM SBH grips fit my BFRs well.  However, the fit/finish on my BFRs is superior to Ruger's.  When you pull the hammer back, you feel that you have a precision instrument in your hand.

Ive held a BFR and I really like it. Im big,but I was surprised at how manageable it was,size and weight wise. Still,I'd love to have a SBH in 45-70 if they made them like that. Im not knocking the BFR,in fact its on my list of guns that I want to get,but if it was a choice between the two,I'd get the SBH. Its more of a preference thing than which (hypothetically as they dont actually make a SBH in that caliber) would be better.